Welcome to the Counselling Department Guidance Counsellor: Mrs Chris Muggeridge Sacred Heart Girls’ College is a community which places a priority upon the hauora/wellbeing of every student. The Counsellor works collaboratively with the staff, particularly the Pastoral Team, to provide maximum support for our students. We believe that taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing is interdependent with the three other dimensions of wellbeing – taha whanau/social wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing, and taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing. We work from a strengths-based perspective, one which recognizes the capability and capacity of young people to develop, learn, and achieve wellbeing. Our emphasis on an individual’s personal strengths and assets, as opposed to problems and deficits, enables us to avoid labelling students negatively or reinforcing behaviour which could be perceived as “problematic”. We aim to facilitate individuals/groups to take control of their own lives, and offer strategies that foster individual resilience whilst demonstrating respect for culture, social justice, equity, and personal dignity. We believe it is important to remember that “The problem is the problem. The problem is not the person.” (Michael White). Beginning from this perspective, it is possible to explore how the problem is affecting lives, therefore supporting people to take action to combat the problem. Students can access Counselling for a variety of reasons including:
Students can self-refer by filling out an Appointment Form available outside the Counselling Office. An appointment time will be sent to the student as soon as possible. Students can also be referred by staff or families. Counselling is one of the most commonly known and used forms of “talking therapies.” The Counsellor primarily provides a support service, which is different from a clinical service involving diagnoses and treatment. Students may talk to the Counsellor about anything which gets in the way of learning, and is of an emotional, psychological or mental wellbeing nature. If your concern is beyond the experience of the Counsellor, she will direct you to the right service inside or outside College. Counselling provides a non-judgemental forum to help you make your own decision about the course of action most suitable for you. Counselling is a confidential process. Confidental or confidentiality means that all information you share with a Counsellor is treated with the utmost respect as privileged information. It is different from secret in that secrecy involves power relationships where there is always the threat of exposing what is kept secret. There are areas of legal responsibility where Counsellors are expected to involve others in your case to ensure your safety and the safety of others in their care. Where that is the case, the Counsellor makes every effort to ensure that you will be informed beforehand, and you will be present to share with them what they need to know to address the concern. Parents/Caregivers are welcome to contact the Counsellor at College if you have any queries or concerns she may be able to assist with.
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